Safety bar end cap with self-draining water feature

ABSTRACT

A safety bar end cap includes a member having an exterior surface including a first recess formed therein, the first recess sized to receive an end of a safety bar therein and defining a first depth measured from the exterior surface, the exterior surface further including a second recess formed therein, the second recess extending across the first recess and defining a second depth measured from the exterior surface that is greater than the first depth of the first recess.

This application claims priority on a U.S. provisional patent application filed on Mar. 17, 2011, and assigned U.S. Patent Application No. 61/465,420.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Safety bars may be utilized in areas where a person may need assistance balancing while moving, such as walking along a corridor, or while getting up, such as next to beds or toilets. Safety bars may also be utilized in institutions where individuals pose a threat to their own safety, such as in mental care institutions. Accordingly, it may be desirable that safety bars utilized in such institutional settings be manufactured in such a way to hinder an individual from using the safety bar to harm, or even kill, themselves.

Additionally, safety bars may be utilized in areas where water is present, such as in bathrooms, pools and shower areas. During use in such areas, water may accumulate on the safety bar or at a safety bar end cap, which may render the safety bar itself slippery and difficult to grip. Additionally, water may accumulate on the safety bar or the end cap, which may damage the wall to which the bar and/or end cap is attached. Furthermore, the accumulation of water on a safety bar or the end cap may result in mold, bacterial growth, or mildew growth on the safety bar or the end cap, which may pose a health hazard and maintenance issues. It may be desirable, therefore, to provide a safety bar that hinders an individual from using the safety bar to harm themselves, while allowing for water to drain from the safety bar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a safety bar end cap with a self-draining water feature and ligature resistance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view of one example embodiment of a right end safety bar end cap with a self-draining water feature.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional front view of the end cap of FIG. 1 taken along lines B-B of FIG. 1, showing the self-draining water feature having a depth in the end cap that is greater than a depth of the bar-securing-groove of the end cap.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the end cap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the end cap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the end cap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional bottom view of the end cap of FIG. 1 taken along lines A-A of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a right side elevational view of one example embodiment of a left end safety bar end cap with a self-draining water feature.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional front view taken along lines B-B of the end cap of

FIG. 7 showing the self-draining water feature having a depth in the end cap that is greater than a depth of the bar-securing-groove of the end cap.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the end cap of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a left side elevational view of the end cap of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is cross-sectional bottom view of the end cap of FIG. 7 taken along lines A-A of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is top view of the end cap of FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of one example embodiment of a corner cap showing a self-draining water feature on each of two sides of the corner cap, each of the self-draining water features having a depth in the corner cap that is greater than a depth of the bar-securing-groove on each of the two sides of the corner cap.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the corner cap of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a left side elevational view of the corner cap of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a right side elevational view of the corner cap of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view of the corner cap of FIG. 13 taken along lines A-A of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional side view of one example embodiment of a safety bar secured to an end cap.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional top view of the safety bar and end cap of FIG. 18 taken along lines A-A of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an exploded, isometric view of one embodiment of a safety bar and one embodiment of two end caps secured thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view of one example embodiment of a right end safety bar end cap 10 with a self-draining water feature 12. End cap 10 includes a bar groove 14 formed, such as by machining, into a surface 16 of the end cap 10, the bar groove 14 shaped to receive the end of a safety bar (see FIG. 18). End cap 10 may include a flat edge 18 on its rear surface that is positioned abutting a wall when the end cap is secured to a safety bar (see FIG. 18). End cap 10 may include a front edge 20 that may be smoothed into a rounded shape 22 and may define a smooth curve from a top edge 24 downwardly to a bottom edge 26. The smooth front edge 20 of end cap 10 does not include any recesses or through holes that would allow a ligature, such as a rope, wire, bed sheet or the like, to be tied there through, thereby hindering the ability of a person to utilize the end cap 10 to harm them self. End cap 10 may also include an aperture 28 sized to receive a fastener therethrough, wherein the fastener (see FIG. 18) may be used to secure the end cap 10 to a lug 62 (see FIG. 18) secured within the safety bar 60 (see FIG. 18). When the safety bar system is assembled, aperture 28 is fully filled by the fastener such that this aperture may not be utilized to tie a rope, wire, bed sheet or the like there through.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional front view of the end cap 10 of FIG. 1 taken along lines B-B of FIG. 1, showing the self-draining water feature 12 having a depth in the end cap 10 that is greater than a depth of the bar-securing-groove 14 of the end cap. In particular, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, bar groove 14 includes a rounded section 30 around aperture 28, a downwardly extending section 32, a horizontally extending section 34, and a second downwardly extending section 36. Bar groove 14 along each of these sections 30-36 extends into end cap 10 a distance or depth 38 of 0.5 centimeters (cm) in the example embodiment shown. In other embodiments, bar groove 14 may be manufactured in a different shape and may have a depth different from the depth shown in this embodiment. Groove 14 generally with have a depth sized to secure a safety bar therein and against movement with respect to end cap 10 when the safety bar and the end cap are secured to one another.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the self-draining water feature, or water drain 12, also comprises a groove cut into end cap 10. Water drain 12 defines a first enlarged section 40, an elongate section 42 positioned at a slight angle with respect to a horizontal axis 44, such as an angle 43 of approximately ten degrees or less, with respect to the horizontally positioned section 34 of bar groove 14, and extending across horizontally extending section 34 of bar groove 14, and a second enlarged section 46. Water drain 12 extends into end cap 10 a distance or depth 48 of 0.8 cm, for example, which is greater that the depth 38 of bar groove 14 by a clearance distance 39 of approximately 0.3 cm in this particular embodiment. Water drain 12 defines a shape different than the end shape of a safety bar (see FIG. 18) such that the end of a safety bar may not be fittingly received within water drain 12. Accordingly, when a safety bar is secured fully within bar groove 14, the safety bar will extend downwardly into end cap 10 a distance of depth 38, such as 0.5 cm for example, but not a distance of depth 48, such as 0.8 cm for example, such that the safety bar will not block water drain 12 which extends into end cap 10 a distance of 0.8 cm. Stated another way, in the example embodiment shown, there is a clearance distance 39 between depth 38 and depth 48, such as 0.3 cm of clearance, through water drain 12 even when a safety bar (see FIG. 18) is fully inserted into and secured within bar groove 14 of end cap 10. This clearance distance 39 allows water to drain through water drain 12 and around the end of a safety bar secured within bar groove 14 such that water does not accumulate on a top horizontal surface 72 of a safety bar 60 (see FIG. 18). The depth of clearance distance 39 may be adjusted in other embodiments in a variety of ways such as by manufacturing the end cap 10 with a larger total thickness so as to manufacture an end cap with a larger clearance distance 39 if desired for a particular embodiment.

The particular method of water drainage through water drain 12 will now be described, with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 18. When water or another fluid accumulates on a top surface 72 of a horizontal section 74 of a safety bar 60 secured with end cap 10, the end of such a section being secured within horizontal section 34 of bar groove 14 for example, the water will flow by the force of gravity through first enlarged section 40 of water drain 12, wherein at least a portion of section 40 is positioned above horizontal extending section 34 of bar groove 14. The water will then flow by the force of gravity downwardly along downwardly extending elongate section 42 of water drain 12 and past the safety bar 60. Due to the depth of water drain 12 in end cap 10, which is greater than the depth of bar groove 14 in end cap 10 so as to form clearance distance 39, the water flows freely around the safety bar 60 secured within the end cap 10. The water will then flow by the force of gravity into second enlarged section 46 of water drain 12 and continue to flow by gravity out of second enlarged section 46 and out of the end cap 10. Second enlarged section 46 of water drain 12 may be sloped at its lower surface downwardly at an angle 76 (FIG. 2) of approximately 27 degrees, for example, from a horizontal axis 44, so as to facilitate water drainage from drain 12.

The safety features of water drain 12 will now be described. Water drain 12 defines a water flow path including four approximately ninety degree turns within the flow path. In particular, water flowing into first enlarged area 40 of drain 12 will flow over the edge of bar 60 through an approximately ninety degree turn, through an approximately ninety degree turn as the water flows from area 40 and into area 42 of drain 12. The water then will then flow through another approximately ninety degree turn as the water flows from area 42 and into second enlarged area 46 of drain 12 and around another approximately ninety degree turn as the water flows around the edge of bar 60 to exit water drain 12. Water or other fluid may easily flow by the force of gravity along such a flow path. However, a ligature may not easily be forced or threaded along such a path. In particular, a flexible member such as a string or a rope is not easily pushed through the small width of clearance region 39 and through four approximately ninety degree bends. A ligature having more memory or retained shape may be forced more easily along a straight path but is not easily forced through a winding path including four approximately ninety degree turns, as is encountered in water drain path 12 of end cap 10. Furthermore, due to the small size of clearance distance 39, even if a flexible ligature such as a string, or a retained shape ligature such as a wire, is able to be forced through drain 12, clearance distance 39 would hinder a larger diameter ligature from being passed through drain 12. Moreover, if a person attempts to thread a ligature through enlarged opening 40 of drain 12, the ligature is not angled correctly to be forced through section 42 of water drain 12 due to the presence of the curved gripping region 64 of safety bar 60. In other words, the ligature would be angled at an approximately forty five degree angle downwardly into region 40 and toward the front of end plate 10 instead of being angled rearwardly so as to be threaded into region 42. If a person attempts to thread a ligature through enlarged opening 46 of drain 12, the ligature is not angled correctly to be forced through section 42 of water drain 12 due to the presence of downwardly extending region 65 of safety bar 60. In other words, the ligature would be angled at an approximately ninety degree angle with respect to axis 44, and upwardly into region 46 and toward the horizontal section of safety bar 60 instead of being angled forwardly so as to be threaded into region 42. Accordingly, in the unlikely event that a ligature is forced through drain 12, the ligature would be of a size not able to support the weight of a person, therefore hindering the ability of a person to use the safety bar system of the present invention to harm themselves.

In this manner, end cap 10 provides a self-draining water feature 12 for the end cap 10 and a safety bar secured therein, which hinders use of the end cap 10 or safety bar 60 to harm an individual in the location where the safety bar may be installed. In other words, the self draining water feature 12 of end cap 10 does not provide an exposed through-hole which may be utilized to tie a rope or a wire, or to thread a bed sheet therethrough, thereby ensuring that the safety bar cannot be used by a person to harm them self.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the end cap of FIG. 1. This view shows smooth front edge 22.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the end cap of FIG. 1. This view shows aperture 28 and a radial recessed section 80 so that the top surface of a fastener secured within aperture 28 will be positioned flush with the exterior surface 82 of end cap 10.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the end cap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional bottom view of the end cap of FIG. 1 taken along lines A-A of FIG. 4. This view shows a cross section of region 30 of bar groove 14 and aperture 28 extending through end cap 10.

FIGS. 7-12 are mirror images of the figures of end cap 10 shown in FIGS. 1-6. This mirror image version of the end cap, including water drain feature 12, functions in the same manner as the end cap shown in FIGS. 1-6, but is used to cap an opposite end of a safety bar than the end cap 10 of FIGS. 1-6. Similar reference numbers are utilized in these figures to refer to similar structural components of the end cap 10 shown in FIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of one example embodiment of a corner cap 50 showing a self-draining water feature 12 on each of two side surfaces 52, 54, of the corner cap, each of the self-draining water 12 features having a depth 48 (see FIG. 17) in the corner cap 50 that is greater than a depth 38 (see FIG. 17) of the bar-securing-groove 14 on each of the two side surfaces 52, 54, of the corner cap 50. The water drain feature 12 on each of sides 52, 54 of corner cap 50 may be manufactured in the same manner, may include the same components, and may function in the same manner as the drain 12 shown in FIGS. 1-6.

Corner cap 50 includes a solid top surface 56 and a solid bottom surface 58 such that when two safety bars are secured to corner cap 50 and the assembly is secured to a mounting surface, a rope, wire or a bed sheet, for example, cannot be secured around or on the corner cap 50, or the safety bars secured thereto, such that the corner cap 50 hinders an individual from using the corner cap 50, or the safety bars secured thereto, to harm themselves. Stated another way, the solid top 56 and bottom 58 surfaces of the corner cap 50 hinder an individual from looping a rope, wire or bed sheet, for example, around the safety bars or the corner cap, thereby hindering an individual from harming themselves. Top surface 56 and bottom surface 58 may each be slanted or angled with respect to a horizontal plane such that these surfaces allow gravity to pull water from these surfaces. Top surface 56 includes a channel region 78 at the front leading corner of corner cap 50 such that water falling on top surface 56 drains from the corner cap 50 at channel region 78 positioned between two hand rails (not shown) which may be secured in each of bar grooves 14 on surface 52 and 54, respectively.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the corner cap of FIG. 13 showing top surface 56 including channel region 78.

FIG. 15 is a left side elevational view of the corner cap of FIG. 13 showing a water drain 12 and a bar groove 14. Referring to FIGS. 15 and 18, a top surface 12A of water drain 12 in middle section 42, a top surface 14A of bar groove 14 in middle section 34, and a top surface 72 of substantially horizontal section of safety bar 60 (FIG. 20), each define an angle 86 of approximately five degrees, and generally less than ten degrees, with respect to horizontal axis 44. In this manner, water or other fluids falling on the top surface of safety bar 60 will flow by the force of gravity toward first enlarged region 40 of water drain 12 and thereafter by drained through water drain recess 12. Accordingly, for purposes of this specification, the term “substantially horizontal” is defined to mean an angle of ten degrees or less with respect to a horizontal axis or plane.

FIG. 16 is a right side elevational view of the corner cap of FIG. 13 showing a water drain 12 and a bar groove 14.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view of the corner cap of FIG. 13 taken along lines A-A of FIG. 16 showing a depth 38 of bar groove 14 and depth 48 of water drain 12 and clearance distance 39 positioned there between. As shown in this figure, similar to FIGS. 2 and 8, water drain 12 has a depth 48 greater than a depth 38 of bar groove 14 such that water may drain by the force of gravity through clearance distance 39 in water drain 12, whereby the water drain 12 does not provide a straight through hole for an individual to thread a rope, wire, a bed sheet or the like there through to harm themselves. In another embodiment, corner cap 50 may be manufactured without water drain 12 but including bar groove 14, and may function to provide a corner cap that supports two safety bars at a corner position while hindering an individual from harming them self by hindering a person from forcing a ligature between a wall and corner cap 50 or between a wall and bar 60.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional side view of one example embodiment of a safety bar 60 secured to an end cap 10. Safety bar 60 is secured to end cap 10 by use of a lug 62 received within a curved region 64 of safety bar 60. The lug 62 is secured to safety bar 60 with a fastener 66, such as a dowel pin positioned through an aperture 67 within safety bar 60, and cap 10 is secured to lug 62 with a second fastener 68, such as a flat head screw.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional top view of the safety bar 60 and end cap 10 of FIG. 18 taken along lines A-A of FIG. 18. In this view, safety bar 60 is fully received within bar groove 14 but does not extend fully into drain 12 such that an open region 70 of drain 12 remains open and clear in end cap 10 and provides a path for water flow downwardly through end cap 10 even when the end cap 10 secures safety bar 60 therein. In this example embodiment, open region 70 defines the width of clearance distance 39 of approximately 0.3 cm. In other embodiments, other dimensions may be utilized for any or all structural features.

FIG. 20 is an exploded, isometric view of one embodiment of a safety bar 60 and one embodiment of an end cap 10 secured together. In this figure, downwardly extending elongate section 42 of water drain 12 can be seen sloping slightly downwardly at angle 43 with respect to horizontal axis 44 (FIG. 1) and extending across horizontal elongate section 34 of bar groove 14. For purpose of this specification, “extending across” bar groove 14 may be defined as one end region of water drain 12 being positioned on one side of groove 14, such as an upper side, an another end region of water drain 12 being positioned on another side of groove 14, such as a lower side, such that water flowing through water drain 12 will flow from an upper side of safety bar 60 to a lower side of safety bar 60, thereby draining from the safety bar system. As shown in this figure, safety bar 60 includes hand gripping region 64, substantially vertical section 59, substantially horizontal section 72 and downwardly extending region 65. For purposes of this specification, a substantially vertical section 59 is defined to mean a section that is plus or minus five degrees from a vertical axis. 

1. A safety bar end cap, comprising: an end cap body defining a flat expanse; a safety bar receiving groove formed in said flat expanse, said safety bar receiving groove defining a bar depth within said body and measured from said flat expanse; and a fluid draining groove formed in said flat expanse, said fluid draining groove defining a drain depth within said body and measured from said flat expanse wherein said drain depth is greater than said bar depth, and wherein said fluid draining groove extends across said safety bar receiving groove.
 2. The safety bar end cap of claim 1 wherein said fluid draining groove defines a first enlarged end region positioned on a first side of said safety bar receiving groove and a second enlarged end region positioned on a second side of said safety bar receiving groove.
 3. The safety bar end cap of claim 2 wherein said safety bar receiving groove includes a substantially horizontal section and wherein said fluid draining groove extends across said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar receiving groove such that said first enlarged end region of said fluid draining groove is positioned above said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar receiving groove and said second enlarged end region of said fluid draining groove is positioned below said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar receiving groove.
 4. The safety bar end cap of claim 1 wherein a difference between said drain depth and said bar depth is a clearance depth, wherein said clearance depth is sufficient in size to allow water to drain there through.
 5. The safety bar end cap of claim 1 further comprising an aperture sized to receive a fastener there through, said fastener adapted to secure an end of a safety bar within said safety bar receiving groove.
 6. The safety bar end cap of claim 1 further comprising a front edge positioned perpendicular to said flat expanse, said front edge defining an arcuate shape and a smooth, rounded surface along said arcuate shape that inhibits attachment of a ligature thereto.
 7. The safety bar end cap of claim 1 wherein a difference between said drain depth and said bar depth is a clearance depth, wherein said clearance depth is sized to hinder a ligature from being passed there through.
 8. The safety bar end cap of claim 3 wherein a top surface of said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar receiving groove defines an angle of less than ten degrees and greater than zero degrees with respect to a horizontal axis and wherein said first enlarged end region of said fluid draining groove is positioned at a lower end of said substantially horizontal section.
 9. The safety bar end cap of claim 1 wherein said safety bar end cap comprises a corner cap further comprising: a second flat expanse; a second safety bar receiving groove formed in said second flat expanse, said second safety bar receiving groove defining a second bar depth within said body and measured from said second flat expanse; and a second fluid draining groove formed in said second flat expanse, said second fluid draining groove defining a second drain depth within said body and measured from said second flat expanse wherein said second drain depth is greater than said second bar depth, and wherein said second fluid draining groove extends across said second safety bar receiving groove.
 10. A safety bar system, comprising: a safety bar comprising an elongate solid member including a first end region and a second end region, and a curved hand gripping region and a flat wall contacting region both extending without opening between said first and second end regions; and an end cap defining a flat expanse, a safety bar receiving groove formed in said flat expanse and adapted to receive said first end region of said safety bar therein, said safety bar receiving groove defining a bar depth within said end cap and measured from said flat expanse, and a fluid draining groove formed in said flat expanse, said fluid draining groove defining a drain depth within said end cap and measured from said flat expanse wherein said drain depth is greater than said bar depth, and wherein said fluid draining groove extends across said safety bar receiving groove.
 11. The safety bar system of claim 10 further comprising a second end cap defining a second flat expanse, a second safety bar receiving groove formed in said second flat expanse and adapted to receive said second end region of said safety bar therein, said second safety bar receiving groove defining a second bar depth within said second end cap and measured from said second flat expanse, and a second fluid draining groove formed in said second flat expanse, said second fluid draining groove defining a second drain depth within said second end cap and measured from said second flat expanse wherein said second drain depth is greater than said second bar depth, and wherein said second fluid draining groove extends across said second safety bar receiving groove.
 12. The safety bar system of claim 10 wherein said safety bar includes a substantially horizontal section positioned between said curved gripping region and said flat wall contacting region, wherein said safety bar receiving groove includes a substantially horizontal section adapted to receive therein and end region of said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar, and wherein said fluid draining groove extends across said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar receiving groove such that a first end region of said first fluid draining groove is positioned above said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar receiving groove and a second end region of said fluid draining groove is positioned below said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar receiving groove.
 13. The safety bar system of claim 10 wherein said safety bar includes a substantially horizontal section and a substantially vertical section extending between said curved hand gripping region and said substantially horizontal section, wherein said fluid draining groove defines a first opening positioned in a corner defined by said substantially horizontal section and said substantially vertical section, wherein said curved hand gripping region extends over said first opening of said fluid draining groove such that said first opening is surrounded on three sides by said safety bar such that access to said first opening is in a direction opposite to a water flow direction through said fluid draining groove.
 14. The safety bar system of claim 12 wherein a top surface of said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar and a top surface of said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar receiving groove both define an angle of less than ten degrees and greater than zero degrees with respect to a horizontal axis and wherein said first end region of said fluid draining groove is positioned at a lower end of said substantially horizontal section such that said top surface of said substantially horizontal section of said safety bar drains water falling thereon toward said first end region of said fluid draining groove.
 15. The safety bar system of claim 10 wherein said first end cap comprises a corner cap further comprising: a second flat expanse; a second safety bar receiving groove formed in said second flat expanse, said second safety bar receiving groove defining a second bar depth within said body and measured from said second flat expanse; and a second fluid draining groove formed in said second flat expanse, said second fluid draining groove defining a second drain depth within said body and measured from said second flat expanse wherein said second drain depth is greater than said second bar depth, and wherein said second fluid draining groove extends across said second safety bar receiving groove.
 16. A safety bar end cap, comprising: a member that includes an exterior surface, said exterior surface including a first recess formed therein, said first recess sized to receive an end of a safety bar therein and defining a first depth measured from said exterior surface, said exterior surface further including a second recess formed therein, said second recess extending across said first recess and defining a second depth measured from said exterior surface that is greater than said first depth of said first recess.
 17. The safety bar end cap of claim 16 wherein said second recess includes a first bend region and a second bend region, said first bend region forcing fluid to flow in a first direction and said second bend region forcing fluid to flow in a second direction different from said first direction, said first and second bend regions allowing fluid to flow there through and hindering a ligature from being threaded there through.
 18. The safety bar end cap of claim 16 wherein said first recess includes a substantially horizontal region and wherein said second recess extends across said substantially horizontal region.
 19. The safety bar end cap of claim 17 wherein said second recess includes a third bend region and a fourth bend region, said third bend region forcing fluid to flow in a third direction and said fourth bend region forcing fluid to flow in a fourth direction, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth directions each define a unique direction of flow, said first, second, third and fourth bend regions allowing fluid to flow there through and hindering a ligature from being threaded there through.
 20. The safety bar end cap of claim 19 wherein said member includes an absence of apertures and an absence of corners so as to prohibit a ligature from being secured thereto. 